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Women on the Water

Ladies, start your engines.

Written by Merry Beth Ryan

AS SEEN IN THE JULY/AUGUST 2005 ISSUE

The 15th Annual Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament was held May 7th in the world famous Boca Grande Pass. The highly anticipated event began15 years ago when a group of women decided to head out for a day of tarpon fishing with their ‘guide’ husbands who regularly fish Boca Grande Pass for tarpon each year.

By the end of that weekend, the tradition had stuck and the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament was born. Since, the mighty silver kings of Boca Grande are referred to as silver queens for at least one day every year.

This year, I lead a team consisting of my best friend Wendy Law, who flew in from Rochester, New York, and my sisters Kathleen and Jennifer who reside in Atlanta, Georgia. Although none of my esteemed teammates had ever caught a tarpon, I felt confident that with Captain Joe Schulten at the helm of the Old School, we had just as good a chance of winning as any boat in the field. I warned Capt. Joe that he would have a few first time tarpon hunters aboard, but he reassured me that everything would be just fine by mentioning, “They don’t call it lady luck for nothin’.”

Tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass has actually been a tradition since the turn of the century when dignitaries and socialites from across the country first began visiting this unique piece of paradise. Now, the Ladies Day Tournament kicks off the world’s greatest tarpon season every year. Tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass is as good as it gets and there is little debate among sport fishermen that catching one’s first king is a thrill like no other.

The official fishing times for this year’s tournament were shifted from the morning hours to 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Chamber Of Commerce Ladies Day Tournament committee decided to change the start and finish times this year in order to fish a more suitable tide. In recent years, several events have gone to sudden death as no tarpon were landed during regulation. During sudden death, the first fish of any species caught in the Pass is declared the winner. Under these circumstances, it is conceivable that one could actually win a tarpon tournament with a small mangrove snapper. Not necessarily the most desirable outcome to such a highly regarded event, but it could happen.

This year, lady anglers were hoping to break the jinx of previous years in ‘grand’ fashion. Although the beginning of May is a bit early to witness huge numbers of tarpon congregating in the Pass, there were definitely more than a few fish here this year. Seeing the sunlight reflecting off a rolling tarpon’s scales is reassuring to say the least.

The Ladies Day Tournament in Boca Grande Pass is a live bait only event. The offerings of choice are traditional pass crabs and the ubiquitous squirrel fish. Captain Joe alternated between the two trying to entice a fish below to select our baits over the others.

During spring tides, the tarpon here are tightly congregated and powerful currents force captains to make fast-paced drifts through packs of fish then quickly head back up tide to start another. On any given day during peak tarpon season, Boca Grande Pass looks like New York City during rush hour traffic. Its not uncommon to count over 200 boats drifting within a few feet of each other between May and August as every year anglers from all over travel to world famous Boca Grande in search of the silver king and the sound of those two magic words… “Fish On!”

Team Moonraker won this year’s event by landing the first tarpon of the day. Captain Rich Caccavale led his team of ladies to victory for the second straight year. Fishing alongside team leader Sandy Burkhart were her daughter Kim Hoover, Joani Witt, and Joyce Anderson who caught the winning fish. When it was announced on the VHF that Team Moonraker was hooked up, all eyes quickly focused on them to make sure they were connected with the ‘real thing.’ Anglers often hook sharks, cobia, grouper and big mangrove snapper during the event, so entrants are never completely convinced of their competitors encounter until they see the shiny silver queen rocket skywards.

With more than an hour and a half of fishing time remaining, Team Moonraker released their fish unharmed. Everyone remained confident there would be more fish to come, and they did. Several other boats hooked up but lost their quarry before an official release was granted. Team Moonraker was ultimately declared the official winners of the 2005 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament. It was definitely a Chamber of Commerce day!

There is a special camaraderie among ladies who fish this tournament. They all enjoy fishing, but also enjoy getting together on Mother’s Day weekend and sharing memories that they cherish the rest of their lives. In fact, this year I was able to bring my 7-year-old niece Lauren, along during the tournament and she really enjoyed herself. Although, I think after witnessing one of the hooked fish almost land right in our boat, she may wait a few more years before joining the fun again.

A special tradition has been established in the Boca Grande Ladies Day Tournament and it keeps the competitors coming back year after year. Whether fishing to win or fishing for fun, it’s an opportunity to experience the angling thrill of a lifetime.

Boca Grande Pass is recognized as The Tarpon Capital of The World, and for good reason. Other locales may boast about how great the tarpon fishing is in their area, but they know if you really want to catch ‘em, Boca Grande is the place to be!

My team is already registered for next year’s event and we all are looking forward to competing for that winning silver queen. Entries are limited to 50 boats. So, early entry is a must if you want to reserve your spot for the 2006 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament.